‘The Ashes is here – now is the time for heroes’

Perth is one of the most isolated cities in the world.

Adelaide is 1,300 miles to the east, Jakarta 1,900 miles to the north. In this corner of Western Australia, nature is hostile. The heat is unforgiving and there are countless animals that could kill a human. Even the magpies attack.

England hardly win cricket matches here: one victory in 14 visits across 55 years. Men wearing Three Lions have won more often in Mumbai, Multan and Colombo.

It is an unlikely place to find English optimism, but thousands have travelled for Friday’s first Ashes Test in hope.

Plenty more will arrive in four other Australian cities between now and January feeling the same way. More will flick on the radio or TV on a freezing winter’s night in the UK longing to be warmed by news from the other side of the planet.

Perhaps it is the shift in venue from the historic Waca, decorated in English scars, to the shiny new Perth Stadium. It could be the assembly of the fastest England pace-bowling attack of all time, or the holes in an ageing Australia.

Realistically, the main fuel of England’s Ashes dreams comes from the rebirth of the Test team under Ben Stokes and Brendon McCullum.

Four years ago, England were put through their quadrennial humiliation. Beaten 4-0 on the field, broken off it by Covid restrictions. It extended a winless run in this country to 15 Tests, 13 of which are defeats.

Whatever you wish to call it – and let’s stick with Bazball, because it seems to rile the Aussies – England’s fresh approach has made them a force in Test cricket once more.

First came the entertainment, then a revamp of personnel, all building to this – quite possibly the Bazball series finale.

This England team is far from perfect, but they are unmissable. Infuriating and exhilarating, often at the same time. Whether you are enthralled or enraged by Stokes and co, savour the emotions, because things after this series will probably never be the same again.

Defeats in Australia often bring change, even though Stokes and McCullum have contracts until 2027. If England win, no achievement across the next two years would match up, even with a return Ashes series in the UK before captain and coach are due to depart.

Both Stokes and McCullum will feel like they have something to prove in Australia. McCullum, the former New Zealand skipper, should have led his country to World Cup glory here in 2015. He won only one of the 16 Tests he played against them.

Stokes is respected for his Ashes heroics, yet most of those have come in the UK. He was the breakout star of a 2013-14 series England lost 5-0, missed the 2017-18 tour because of the Bristol incident and was only just back from a break from cricket four years ago.

On this occasion, he has arrived in Australia looking laser focused and as fit as a butcher’s dog. If he becomes only the sixth England captain since World War Two to win an Ashes series in Australia, Stokes could legitimately be called the country’s greatest ever cricketer.

Recovered from the shoulder injury he sustained in the summer, Stokes insists he is fit to play a full role as an all-rounder – vital to England’s chances of lifting the urn.

He will take his place in what could be the fastest attack England have gathered for a single Test, with five genuinely quick bowlers in line to be unleashed at Perth Stadium.

Pace has been a cornerstone of some of England’s most famous wins in this country: Harold Larwood in 1932-33, Frank ‘Typhoon’ Tyson in 1954-55 and Raymond Illingworth’s battery of fast bowlers in 1970-71.

The pace plan has been a long-term England strategy in the belief speedsters are the key to success in this country.

However, lately a new version of the Kookaburra ball on sporty pitches has made movement just as valuable a weapon. England might have been better off with James Anderson and Stuart Broad. Have the dastardly Aussies duped the Poms again?

The reception for the visiting team has been predictably hostile, bordering on puerile. England have faced questions on golf, moral victories and stumpings, while the front page of Thursday’s West Australian labelled them «arrogant Bazballing Poms».

Australia’s players had avoided playing shots until Steve Smith’s rehearsed swipe at Monty Panesar. Surely the Australia captain has other things to think about the day before an Ashes Test than Monty’s performance on Mastermind.

Smith is standing in as captain for the injured Pat Cummins, who is regaining fitness after a back injury and looked ready to go in the nets this week.

There is an English perception that Australia are old and in disarray, yet they remain a fabulous cricket team.

Injuries to bowlers like Cummins and Josh Hazlewood would affect any team, though Australia have a knack of finding able substitutes. Jake Weatherald is the latest attempt to fill David Warner’s shoes at opener.

These two teams are evenly matched. Occasionally flakey across the top three, with their strongest batters at four and five. Both look strong in the pace department, at least when all are fully fit.

Australia undoubtedly have the edge when it comes to spin bowling, and Nathan Lyon has unfinished business after limping out of the 2023 series. Don’t be surprised if Garry the GOAT has a big say.

England are inexperienced in this country – only five have played a Test in Australia prior to this series. Whatever the result, pray Joe Root finally gets a hundred here, because no-one needs to see a naked Matthew Hayden striding around the Melbourne Cricket Ground.

There is an accepted wisdom England must start well, but it is depressing to think everyone should go home if the visitors lose in Perth. If any team could come from behind, it is Stokes’ men.

The Ashes is a love story, the urn presented as a gift of affection from Florence Murphy to England captain Ivo Bligh in 1883.

This time, there are touches of romance everywhere you look. Mark Wood’s dad pretended to be Shane Warne when they played games in the garden. Root and Lyon are mates from Adelaide club cricket. Jofra Archer has returned from career-threatening injuries. Scott Boland and Brendan Doggett are the first pair of indigenous men to play in the same Australia team. Countless players on both sides were inspired by 2005.

So, this is it. A lap of Australia for the right to lift the smallest trophy in sport. Another chapter in the canon of Ashes cricket in this country.

Don Bradman and Bodyline, Steve Waugh’s Sydney hundred and Warne’s 700th wicket. Steve Harmison’s wide and sprinkler dances.

For England, 16 men have the chance to match the greats that have conquered this country. Alastair Cook, Wally Hammond and Herbert Sutcliffe. Sydney Barnes, Larwood and Tyson.

And Stokes. The opportunity to become only the sixth England skipper in 80 years to leave Australia with the urn. Two of the other five have been knighted.

The time for talking is over.

Now is the time for heroes.